Jim & Moni Webb write from Mamburao, Occidental Mindoro, Philippines, where they are project coordinators for Laymen Ministries Philippines Projects.

The first Adventist work in the Philippine national prison on the island of Mindoro began with one layman in 1997. While working in Japan, Luisito Benitez had been led to Christ. Upon his return to his home country of the Philippines in November 1997, Pastor Jorge Panghulan, then district pastor, found donors for his support and employed Luie as a full time prison ministry worker, though many times the pastor and his wife had to fund out of their own pockets. In July 1999, Laymen Ministries was invited to sponsor this work. We gladly accepted the administrative and financial responsibilities. In 2000, Abel Miralles and Brother Bohboy, both volunteers for some time, were added to the expanding prison work.

The Sablayan Prison Penal Farm consists of approximately 1,050 (more or less) inmates located on four campuses scattered over the 62,500-acre prison farm. Through careful planning and dedication, Luie, Abel, and Brother Bohboy visit the inmates three times every week and hold four Sabbath services. During the week they conduct Bible studies, personal counseling and assist the inmates with family contacts and mailings. In addition, they give leadership training to select, committed individuals to become “inmate missionaries.” Each Sabbath they, or trained inmates, conduct four Sabbath Schools and four divine services. What a joy it is to see inmates praying, teaching, singing, studying, and preaching each Sabbath!

Since Laymen Ministries translated and printed the Amazing Facts Bible study guides and many booklets by Ellen White and Joe Crews into Tagalog, the number of interests and converts has mushroomed. Nightly there are Bible studies conducted by inmates in every dormitory.

It is exciting to us to note that 75 OF THE 105 BAPTISMS CAME FROM INMATES LEADING OTHER INMATES TO CHRIST! (Do you realize that these 105 inmates are 10% of the prison population!?)

Many souls had been won to Christ in the prison during the past five years, but the superintendent refused to allow any baptisms. Corruption is rampant in the political system of the Philippines, and the Bureau of Corrections is no exception. The inmates were very frustrated. We encouraged them to pray for the superintendent’s conversion, and if he refused the Holy Spirit, that God would remove him from office. In May 2002, God answered dramatically. The old superintendent was removed and a new superintendent put in place—who is an active Seventh-day Adventist Christian! Superintendent Alaya immediately instituted religious freedom for all the inmates and agreed to allow the Adventist brethren to be baptized!

On July 6th, all the officers from the South Central Luzon Conference, Pastor Panghulan, Superintendent Alaya, with Luie, Abel and myself representing Laymen Ministries, gathered at the prison for the first baptism ever allowed within the penal farm!

Laymen Ministries provided each candidate with his own Bible. Each man was encouraged to continue as a missionary to his fellow inmates. They were also reminded that when released, they are also missionaries to their families and friends. Yes, this prison facility is a missionary training facility! Finally the moment came when the Superintendent allowed 105 inmates to walk through the prison gates and board two trucks to be driven to a swollen creek. As three pastors conducted the baptisms, one inmate’s wife and children, the prison Superintendent, Conference officials and Laymen Ministries’ staff, sang songs of praise to the Lord!

Among the 105 baptized were two former inmates who returned to the prison to be baptized with their brothers in Christ. Another baptized inmate is the murderer, 11 years ago, of four Adventists from one family. Family members of the deceased were on hand to witness the “born again” brother. What a testimony to the power of God to change lives on both sides of this tragedy!

The new superintendent promises to be a great blessing in this work. His priorities are to rehabilitate inmates through spiritual enlightenment, to communicate with their families and to inspire livelihood programs. On a recent Sabbath the Superintendent joined us in worshipping at all 4 sub-prisons. He was delighted to see how God is working to change lives, and he actively participated in each worship group.

At the time of the baptism, Sabbath attendance was at about 135 inmates. Within three months, 60 of the baptized inmates were transferred or discharged. These men have continued to work with the Amazing Facts Bible study guides in their new mission fields—both in prison or as ambassadors for Christ to family and friends.

The remaining brethren have faithfully continued nightly Bible study groups in every dormitory. As a result, the Sabbath worship numbers again range from 130 to 150 active participants.

We gratefully acknowledge the role of our donors, since it is your support that has helped make this celebration of baptism possible. We truly believe these 105 are only the “first fruits.” May there soon be second and third generation fruits from these captive missionaries. Please continue to lift up these brothers in your prayers.

For five years Laymen Ministries’ Philippine workers have struggled to persuade the illiterate semi-nomadic Mangyan natives that education is critical to the improvement of their lives.

We currently operate five one-room elementary schools in the mountains of Occidental Mindoro, Philippines. We frequently shed tears as children who were excited to learn are removed by their parents after only six months to one year of schooling. The parents’ reasoning is simple: “My child can already read, write his name and count to 20. We need him to find food in the forest and help with the slash and burn.”

It is extremely difficult for the parents to understand the importance of education, as no one in their village or among their relatives has ever been to school. The mindset of these natives has been conditioned by centuries of discrimination: their land has been stolen, and they are treated like animals by many of the Philippine population. Their culture does not allow confrontation with those who cheat and abuse them. Children often have their own children by the age of 13 or 14. The average life span is under 40 years, so the pressure is great to marry early.

Due to the ignorance of basic hygiene and nutrition, many children are born with limited mental capacity. For those who survive childhood, life is often the vicious cycle of superstitions, hunger, disease and death.

Presently 160 elementary students regularly attend school. They are excited to learn and share their knowledge. They come to school freshly washed and having had breakfast. The curriculum is a balance of Bible, Math, English, Tagalog, Health and Science. Only our teachers have books, so they must write all lessons and exercises on the blackboard.

Each month, Laymen Ministries provides an incentive for perfect attendance. These “gifts” consist of items like a toothbrush, nail cutter, plate, plastic drinking cup, or a stainless spoon. Costing only pennies, these rewards teach ownership and responsibility to children who have never owned anything.

A small handful of students leave our schools after one to three years and enroll in a public school. Without exception, they are ahead of their classmates. But most students cannot afford public school, as this would require boarding for a fee. The Mangyans are practically a “cashless society.” There is no money for paper and pencils, much less tuition, board, uniforms, etc. So most students simply stop after a few years, or when the social pressure gets too high.

God blessed us with a bright light who is committed to helping her own people. Melkie Tobias is already 21 years old. She started attending our school only 2 1/2 years ago. She passed the 6th grade placement test and is presently enrolled in high school. She is the awe of all our villages and is showing the students and parents that “one of theirs” can achieve.

We need more native leaders like Melkie. How can we accomplish this?

1. Develop a basic sponsor program and send the students to a public school. While this is less expensive, I believe it is undesirable for several reasons:

a. Non-Christian environment;

b. A very prejudiced setting;

c. Very low educational expectations;

d. Student would be taught to accept
corruption, which is rampant here;

e. Student would not have positive role
models or mentors.

2. Bring the qualifying students to one location where they would be loved, mentored, tutored and encouraged by “foreign” Christian foster parents. The Home Sponsor Program would permit the molding of solid Christian characters while encouraging excellence in educational and leadership principles.

Establish a “home” where native youth, who meet the following qualifications, can continue their education:

1. Exhibit Christian character

2. Desire to learn and return to their tribe
to help their own people

3. Have proven their academic ability in
our schools by passing an achievement
test and passing an oral interview with the
Laymen Ministries, Philippines, staff.

Let me share the experiences of a few of our Mangyan students.

Alona: After 1 1/2 years in our thatched roof, one-room school, Alona got the “opportunity” to be a servant in a Tagalog home. She is allowed to attend the local public school, but has no time to study as she must wash all the family’s clothes by hand, clean the house and help cook to pay for her “opportunity.” She is still at the top of her class.

Wally: We found Wally two years ago at the age of six. He had egg-sized swellings behind each ear (a sign of TB). We were able to get TB treatment, and in October 2001 he started school. He would cry and hide his face when asked a question or when told there would be a test. Today, a year later, at age 8, he is underweight and undersize, but due to the love and patience of his teacher, Louffe Benavidez, Wally is the first to raise his hand to answer and delights to work at the blackboard in front of the class.

Odel and Arnel: Both brothers love to attend school, but since they have to share one T-shirt and one pair of shorts, they have to attend on alternate days in the classroom.

There are several youth who have faithfully attended school and will be ready very soon to advance to the next educational level. They know it is impossible, unless God provides the way.

The following is our estimation of what it will require for this “foster sponsorship” to become a reality:

1. Dedicated mature Christian couple $ ? / month

2. Rent house and utilities, $300 / month

3. Food for couple and 6 students $500 / month

4. Tuition, clothes and school supplies $200 / month

Please prayerfully consider whether being a part of this next level might be God’s will for you!

P.S. I am sure that some of you are mentally several steps ahead of me. The real solution is to have our own secondary school. Please share with us at Laymen Ministries what God would have you do in this matter.

Missionaries go to far away, remote places to tell others of the love of Jesus. This is the concept most Christians have of “mission work.” It is true that many Christians are called by God to go to “every nation, tribe, tongue and people.” Yes! These children of God are often in very remote and backward locations, actually risking their lives to reach souls with the good news of our loving God.

But in order for the selfless co-workers with Christ to be able to go, it requires many “home missionaries” who selflessly financially support, pray for, and encourage those in far-off places. It is most appropriate that we acknowledge these unsung co-laborers in the calling of Christ.

In April 2001, Laymen Ministries missionaries to the Philippines, Jim and Moni Webb, received a visit from their sister in Christ and close friend Celia Ng, a registered nurse from Austin, Texas. Celia arrived with two suitcases full of medicines and hospital supplies. Upon seeing firsthand the tremendous needs on the island of Mindoro, she determined to do her best to help make a difference.

Celia shared her experiences with her church family in South Austin, Texas, and with her co-workers at Seton Hospital in Austin. Upon seeing her pictures, hearing her stories and feeling her enthusiasm, many friends told her that they also wanted to become involved.

In September 2002, Celia informed her friends that Jim and Moni would be visiting Austin in October, and that she wanted to send us back to Mindoro with suitcases full of medicines. Without waiting to be asked, many started contributing money for “Celia’s Philippine Project.”

Upon our arrival in Austin, we learned that Celia had organized a luncheon with her church family and contributors. She also hosted a dinner at her home attended by nurses, doctors, hospital administrators and three Sisters of Charity sisters, all who are co-workers at her hospital.

Almost $2,500 was donated for “Celia’s Project,” and we praised God for the outpouring of love by our S.D.A. family and by others of many religious persuasions. THE BLESSINGS DID NOT END THERE! The hospital agreed to allow us to purchase the antibiotics, antifungals and vitamins through the hospital pharmacy AT HOSPITAL COST! Terry Green, the hospital pharmacist, worked tirelessly to help make this a reality. We were able to purchase more than $2000 worth of medicines for $673.61. The remaining money we have brought back to the Philippines with us. It will be used to buy medicines which we can purchase locally.

We are blessed to be a part of “Celia’s Philippine Project,” and a part of the “Mission Project” of each donor to Laymen Ministries. If YOUR project is a letter of encouragement or prayers or money for the advancement of God’s work in the Philippines, we thank you!

P.S. If you would like to experience first-hand the mission work on the island of Mindoro, feel free to contact Jim and Moni Webb at jimoniw@yahoo.com and plan at least a two-week adventure. Not up for the adventure firsthand? Call our office and request the new Philippine video: #46 Miracles in the Philippines.

“One Sabbath last summer, 105 prison inmates were buried in baptism!”

“...75 of the 105 baptisms came from inmates leading other inmates to Christ!”

“Family members of the deceased were on hand to witness the ‘born again’ brother.”

“May there soon be second & third generation fruits from these captive missionaries.”

“For those who survive childhood, life is often the vicious cycle of superstitions, hunger, disease & death.”

“She is the awe of all our villages & is showing the students & parents that ‘one of theirs’ can achieve.”

“But in order for the selfless co-workers with Christ to be able to go, it requires many ‘home missionaries’ who selflessly financially support, pray for, & encourage those in far-off places.”